helped people get jobs, put food on the table for families and helped those families get an education. mr. speaker, this great american lady celebrates a birthday today. i am sorry i am not with her but i am in spirit. happy birthday, mom. the speaker pro tempore: the chair recognizes the gentleman from illinois, mr. shimkus, for five minutes. mr. shimkus: i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. shimkus: thank you. thank you, mr. speaker. mr. speaker, it's good to come down for morning hour, especially today, to hear my colleagues come down and thank staff and people who have been important in their lives, especially in their careers. jason altmire, what a great job he did thanking his staff. my friend, russ carnahan, from across the river, the mississippi river, thanking family, wife, son, staff, for the work we do here. many go unappreciated too much. but mr. speaker, i did break the code on why we're here so late today. i know a lot of people want to know. we can blame jay pierson for that. jay is retiring today. this